The New Orleans Saints were finally back on the road when they visited the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Here’s a recap of all the action.
First Quarter
The teams exchanged quick punts to begin the game before the hosts found some momentum on their second series.
Jameis Winston converted his first throw of the drive with an 11-yard pass to Isaiah Likely before Darnell Mooney broke off for a 20-yard run.
A few plays later, Winston found Likely again for 24 yards as the Giants made their way inside the red zone. He then found Tyrone Tracy Jr for a 17-yard touchdown.
Trailing 7-0, New Orleans went three-and-out again before forcing another one out of New York as well.
Second Quarter
The teams exchanged another pair of punts to open the second quarter, before Tyler Shough and the Saints offense finally began to move the ball as he converted a 3rd-down throw to Bryce Lance.
An 18-yard catch by Devaughn Vele moved the drive into Giants territory, but the visitors were soon held to a field goal attempt. Daniel Carlson’s 55-yard attempt missed wide left.
Winston connected twice with Malik Nabers as the Giants moved the ball past midfield, and a roughing the passer penalty against Vernon Broughton put them in the red zone.
After incompletions from Winston, Dominic Zvada converted a 34-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Barion Brown returned the kickoff near midfield for the black and gold, and Shough found Chris Olave for 12 yards to get New Orleans into field goal range.
Three straight incompletions meant another field goal attempt. Carlson was good this time from 58 yards.
With just over a minute left, Charlie Jones fumbled the kickoff return. Oscar Delp fell on it for the black and gold, giving the Saints a chance to tie the game before the half.
Shough scrambled for 25 yards as he looked to do just that. A few plays later, on 4th-and-goal, he found Lance in the end zone with the last play of the half, tying the game at 10-10.
Third Quarter
CJ Donaldson broke out for a 17-yard run early on the first possession of the second half, before a roughing-the-passer penalty moved the black and gold into Giants territory.
Alvin Kamara then ran for 11 yards. Two plays later, Shough found him for a 31-yard touchdown with a vintage Kamara catch-and-run down the sideline giving the Saints a 17-10 lead.
New York then went three-and-out with a string of penalties hampering their efforts to find a response.
The Saints offense returned and stayed hot after another return to near midfield from Brown, with Kendre Miller running the ball effectively and Shough connecting with Chris Olave and Vele.
After Donaldson was marked just short of the goal line, Shough ran it in himself to establish a 24-10 advantage.
Winston went 3/4 for 36 yards to begin the ensuing Giants series, before throwing an interception into the hands of Martin Emerson Jr.
Despite a 15-yard run from Kamara early in the drive, the Saints were held to a field goal this time. Carlson extended the lead with a 51-yard kick.
Fourth Quarter
Carl Granderson and Chase Young were able to get to Winston to force another three-and-out from the G-Men, but the Saints proceeded to go three-and-out themselves.
Winston couldn’t take advantage, as he was picked off by Julian Blackmon.
With a very short field, Shough threw an 18-yard touchdown to Olave to put New Orleans up 34-10.
With JJ McCarthy in the game at quarterback for New York, he too threw an interception to Emerson Jr.
But Donaldson fumbled on the second play of the Saints ensuing drive. McCarthy threw a 27-yard pass to Nabers before Tracy Jr ran in another touchdown. After a successful two-point attempt, New York cut the lead to two scores at 34-18.
New Orleans went three-and-out, and McCarthy began the next possession with a 49-yard throw to Charlie Jones. A play later, he found Likely for a 24-yard touchdown.
This time, the two-point conversion was unsuccessful with a pass intended for Nabers.
The Saints then went three-and-out yet again. McCarthy continued to move the ball at will, including another 46-yard connection with Nabers.
A sack by Colby Wooden helped the black and gold limit New York to a field goal, which put the score at 34-27.
It was then another three-and-out for the Saints, giving the Giants a chance to complete the comeback.
They almost did, with a pair of passes to Likely and Nabers moving the ball inside the red zone. On 4th-and-1, though, McCarthy’s pass to Likely was incomplete.
Shough knelt out the clock to secure the 34-27 victory.
The black and gold are in France now, with all attention on Sunday’s international matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.